The center of powerful Hurricane Lee is expected to pass well North of the Northern Leeward Islands this weekend. Dangerous surf and rip current conditions are expected to develop around the Western Atlantic through early next week.
Current Position/Movement:
LOCATION...18.9N 55.5W
ABOUT 500 MI...805 KM E OF THE NORTHERN LEEWARD ISLANDS
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...150 MPH...240 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT...WNW OR 300 DEGREES AT 13 MPH...20 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...942 MB...27.82 INCHES
There are no coastal watches or warnings in effect.
At 500 PM AST (2100 UTC), the center of Hurricane Lee was locatednear latitude 18.9 North, longitude 55.5 West. Lee is moving toward the west-northwest near 13 mph (20 km/h), and this motion is expected to continue through early next week with a significant decrease in forward speed. On the forecast track, Lee is expected to pass well to the north of the northern Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico over the weekend and into early next week.
Maximum sustained winds are near 150 mph (240 km/h) with higher gusts. Lee is a category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Some fluctuations in intensity are likely over the next few days, however Lee is expected to remain a powerful major hurricane through early next week.
Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 35 miles (55 km) from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 150 miles (240 km).
The estimated minimum central pressure is 942 mb (27.82 inches).